2027 Fall Technical Meeting

October 27–29, 2027

*will be held in conjunction with the MPMA's 2027 Motion + Power Technology Expo

Huntington Place

1 Washington Blvd.

Detroit, MI 48226

SUBMISSION SCHEDULE

(Dates subject to change)

TRACK 1 – Technical Paper Submission Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: January 15, 2027

• Abstract acceptance notification: Mid-March 2027

• Completed draft paper deadline: June 4, 2027

• Peer reviewers’ comments available: July 19, 2027

• Final paper deadline: September 10, 2027

• Final presentation due: October 15, 2027

• 2027 Fall Technical Meeting: October 27-29, 2027

For abstracts selected for presentation at the 2027 FTM, the review draft of the paper shall consist of the completed paper and include all results, discussion, and conclusions. Testing results and data may be updated before submission of the final draft. Each Track 1 presentation should be based on its corresponding peer-reviewed technical paper. 

TRACK 2 – Presentation-Only Submission Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: February 26, 2027

• Abstract acceptance notification: Mid-April, 2027

• Final presentation due: September 10, 2027

• 2027 Fall Technical Meeting: October 27-29, 2027

ABSTRACT GUIDELINES

Abstracts should be between 200 and 300 words.

All submission should be made through the online portal. Do not send supplemental material (photos, articles, or full draft papers), as supplemental materials will not be seen by the abstract reviewers. The person who will be submitting all FTM materials and receiving all conference information (preferably the author/speaker) should be the one to create the submission in the online portal. Please use the “Technical Support” link provided at the top of the abstract management system if you have any questions about or have problems with the online submission system. 

MPMA

In May of 2025, the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA) merged to form the Motion + Power Manufacturers Alliance (MPMA). MPMA is now the organizer of the Fall Technical Meeting, and both gear and bearing submissions are encouraged at this event.

NEW FORMAT

This will be the second year that the FTM will be following a dual-track format. The first track will maintain the classic structure—featuring highly technical papers and presentations on new technologies, all peer-reviewed and indexed in Scopus. The second track will consist of presentation-only sessions focused on cutting-edge developments, innovative company solutions to market challenges such as case studies or technological advancements in manufacturing or inspection, and emerging technologies poised to influence the future of the bearing and gear industries. For both tracks, a Q&A with the speaker will take place after each presentation.

CALL FOR PAPERS 

Technology is fundamentally changing how manufacturing is done. The gear and bearing industries face emerging trends and innovations that challenge engineers to keep pace with cutting-edge technology while keeping design, quality, materials, and analysis efficient. Sharing ideas with fellow experts has never been more important, and MPMA's annual Fall Technical Meeting (FTM) is the ideal forum for presenting research and advancing knowledge across the global industry.

The 2027 FTM will take place concurrently with the Motion + Power Technology Expo in Detroit, MI. MPMA invites engineers, researchers, academics, and industry practitioners to submit abstracts on topics relevant to the gear and bearing industries, including design and analysis; manufacturing and quality; materials, metallurgy, and heat treatment; operation, maintenance, and efficiency; and gear and bearing failure. MPMA also welcomes submissions on emerging areas shaping the future of the industry, such as electrification, additive manufacturing, robotics, digital tools and simulation, sustainability, and condition monitoring.

Why present at the FTM

Presenting at the FTM puts your work in front of an audience of engineers, researchers, and technical leaders from across the gear and bearing supply chain. Presenters gain visibility for their research and their organizations, receive direct feedback from peers during each session's Q&A, and build connections with experts who share their technical focus. Because peer-reviewed papers are indexed in Scopus, the international database of peer-reviewed literature, accepted work also becomes part of the permanent, citable technical record.

Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo) will celebrate 40 years of driving the gear industry forward. You will have key audience from the show and have the opportunity to walk this niche show where the gear and bearing communities celebrate industry.

Review process

For Track 1, abstracts will be reviewed by members of the Technical Division Executive Committee (TDEC). Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers, which will go through a double-blind peer-review process before final acceptance. Abstracts submitted for Track 2 will be reviewed by the TDEC and chairs of the Emerging Technology Committees. Each accepted abstract will go on to become a presentation given in Track 2.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Please be advised that there is a speaker registration fee. Speakers (one person per paper or presentation) will receive a discount on the regular conference price and will register for a fee of $445. Other discounts cannot be combined with this fee. If a presentation has multiple presenters, the additional presenter(s) will pay the regular price.

• For your paper or presentation to be considered for the FTM, you must first submit an abstract to MPMA. Late abstracts will not be accepted.

• The submission process for this event will take place entirely online; abstracts submitted any other way will not be considered for the event. More information regarding the abstract submission process is available on MPMA’s website and in our ongoing email communications. You can access the online submission system—starting after the 2026 FTM on October 7—through a link on the MPMA website at www.motionpower.org.

• MPMA holds publication rights to all accepted and presented papers; authors will sign a license agreement form prior to publication of their papers.

• Presentations will be made available to the attendees of the event, unless the author specifically requests, in writing, not to distribute the presentation.

• All papers should have supporting data to back up claims. If your project has security concerns, such as inability to share proprietary client information and data, please consult your legal department before submitting your abstract.

• It is recommended that authors of selected papers begin early in obtaining any required company approvals or funding for submitting and presenting a paper at the FTM. All presenters are responsible for their own travel expenses, including airfare, hotel accommodation, and any necessary visas or travel documentation.

• If the presenter is required to obtain a visa to enter the United States, he or she should forward the visa application to MPMA staff as early as possible, and the presenter must be able to obtain the visa by the end of June.

• All testing and data must be completed before the first draft is due on June 4, 2027.

BOTH TRACKS

Authors must have approval to use any copyrighted or trademarked terms, images, or graphics in their presentations and should focus on technical content and minimize commercialism.

Complete instructions for speakers and presentations will be provided upon notification of an abstract’s acceptance. If you have not received a notification email informing you of your abstract acceptance/rejection status by mid-March 2027 (Track 1) or mid-April 2027 (Track 2), please notify MPMA at FTM@motionpower.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION

All Fall Technical Meeting questions should be sent to FTM@motionpower.org.

You will be using this form to provide your contact information and your required submission details for review. New users: Click "Join Now" below to begin. If you submitted last year, enter your credentials under "Already a User?"